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The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has been examining topics related to posted speed limits and speeding since 2017 and has published several documents thus far that described practices for setting posted speed limits in the U.S.; the impact of speed increases on driver safety from vehicle crash tests; and traffic fatalities in relation to […]
The aging of the population in the United States (U.S.), particularly the “baby boomers,” is bringing about new challenges to maintaining safe mobility for older adults that are well recognized in the transportation community. As research continues to better understand and respond to these challenges, three complementary and interdependent goals have emerged: 1) to help […]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that 91,000 police-reported crashes resulting in 50,000 injuries and 800 fatalities annually—amounting to approximately 1%–2% of all crashes, injuries, and deaths—involve drowsy driving; however, the contribution of drowsy driving in motor vehicle crashes is difficult to measure. Although reports by police officers who investigate crashes sometimes indicate […]
Previous research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety on the effectiveness of countermeasures for distracted driving (see Related Content below) concluded that results of existing evaluations were mixed, there was questionable generalizability to other populations or regions and, in other cases, insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions. Thus, this research compiled information on distracted […]
When a vehicle breaks down or a minor crash has occurred, drivers and their families can become stranded on the side of the highway as traffic speeds past. Roadside assistance providers courageously dedicate themselves to helping motorists during this time of great vulnerability, often placing themselves in harm’s way to ensure that others are able […]
Roadside assistance providers such as motor vehicle towing personnel, mobile mechanics, and safety service patrollers often work on or alongside highways to help motorists stranded due to vehicle breakdowns or crashes. This places them at risk of being struck by passing vehicles. Research is needed to understand the circumstances of crashes in which roadside assistance […]
Risky driving behaviors such as speeding and impaired driving play a critical role in road traffic crashes and contribute to an unsafe transportation environment for Americans traveling both inside and outside vehicles. The 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index provides insights into understanding public perceptions, attitudes toward, and engagement in unsafe driving behaviors. This report examines patterns of […]
New and sophisticated vehicle technology is beginning to change the nature of driving, assuming tasks that were previously part of the driver’s responsibility. Past research has documented critical gaps in drivers’ understanding of these technologies and related safety implications. However, less is known about how understanding of new technology varies across the driving population. Moreover, […]
Communities across the nation are turning to the Safe System approach to design transportation systems as a way to eventually reduce crash deaths and injuries to zero—the goal of Vision Zero programs. The Safe System approach uses thoughtful road and vehicle design to minimize the chance of a crash when people make mistakes and, when […]
Recent reviews by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety noted that technology-based countermeasures such as cellphone blocking apps offer a promising approach to reducing distracted driving. However, acceptance and use of such apps remain low, especially among driving populations most prone to distraction. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is working with researchers at the […]